budclem Loc: orcutt, ca

I was trying to take a picture of the satellite launch has happened to me before but yesterday it was spectacular and I couldn't get it.

I have a Canon Rebel and in the dark trying to take a picture of the satellite launch in the sky (very brightlite 7:22pm) the shutter wouldn't open. I was in P mode.
What am I doing wrong
Thanks Bud

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

So many possiblities! If the camera can't focus it won't shoot unless you have it in manual focus.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What lens? What ISO? You might try attaching an example and storing the original and we can inspect the EXIF for these technical details. That might prove both more effective and efficient.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup.

(Might be a setting for that.)

Bill_de Loc: US

I believe you are looking for advise on how to do it, rather than a critique on what didn't work. Take a look at the link below, and also search Google for Rocket Launch.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a21602558/how-to-photograph-a-rocket-launch/

--

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I read aperture not opening in Professional mode, but reading again, the reference was 'shutter'. Maybe some more basic questions are appropriate: was the battery charged, was the card in the camera, was the lens set to AF, was the lens properly mounted, was the cap off, etc?

Did the OP take any preliminary shots to confirm exposure and camera operations? Does the camera work now a day later?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I read "What am I doing wrong".

twowindsbear

PROFESSIONAL MODE??

What is that ?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That's what the "P" stands for on the mode selector dial.
--Bob

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Either the camera couldn't focus, or it was exposing for the night sky - making a long exposure. When I get a new camera, I do two things. I set it to take a picture when I press the shutter button, regardless of focus. I make sure it will not take a picture without an SD card.

https://www.miops.com/how-to-photograph-a-rocket-launch-at-night/
https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a21602558/how-to-photograph-a-rocket-launch/
https://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av043/LaunchPhotographyGuide.pdf
https://fstoppers.com/education/how-shoot-rocket-launch-187958

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

The answer is simple... The camera will not take a picture at night if the lens is on auto focus. You must put the lens on manual focus and it should work just fine. To bad to find that out on such an opportunity! I got several good shots of the launch, plus a video. Really spectacular!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Your camera won't trip the shutter if the camera thinks it's not in focus. (Not all of Canon camera bodies have this, but you don't say exactly which model you have.) This is probably because of one of two things. I'm not sure if it has to do with P mode or not, but most likely it is. My guess is that in P mode, the camera automatically goes into a focus priority configuration where if the subject isn't in focus, it won't trip the shutter. The other thing is that there is a menu selection that also tells the camera to use this same focus priority. So if you have that set, it will not shoot in that low of a lighting condition. Change that setting to anything but focus priority and it will always shoot, even if the subject is out of focus.

You really need to learn to use other modes in your camera like S Tv and M.

I took pictures of the launch and used M (manual) and set it for ISO 3200 to start and 1/60th of a second on the shutter. I had my lens wide open. (f/4) Before the launch, while it was still light enough out for me to use the cameras auto focus, I focused on something way far away and then turned off the auto focus switch on the lens. So now when I press the shutter half way, the focus is NOT affected and the lens will be focused on "infinity" which is where you need it to be for a rocket that is way far away.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

The neophyte’s term for Program.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

In my experience "P" mode refers to Program mode, not Professional. (camera sets exposure parameters in accordance with a coder's estimate of what the photographer will want in a statistically average scene. Refer to the user's manual for more info on this setting. In fact, some hedge hogs probably feel that P mode is UNprofesssional

N4646W

I used a D610, not familiar with Canon, but should be close. Set to manual, ISO was 200, shutter was varied between 2 to 20 sec., f 6.3, tripod mounted. I was very lucky, got the lift off and seperation on 20 sec exposures. Booster return at 20 sec exposure. The final sequences were at 2 to 6 sec. Basically I exposed for the brightest stars before the launch time. If you have a remote trigger you can set for Bulb and sequence your shots for effect.

I think he has another launch in a few weeks, hope it is as spectacular.

Ron